Review: Deluxe Caravans 21ft 6in Eclipse Off-Road

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Deluxe Caravans came onto the scene relatively recently. The company flew under the radar for some time but, if its recent builds are anything to go by, Deluxe Caravans is on the cusp of making a genuine splash in the RV market.

As shown on Network 10, we invited a number of offroad caravan/camper manufacturers to participate in our Offroad Challenge. The idea was to showcase these vans on the offroad terrain they’re realistically likely to encounter – undulations, a hill ascent and descent, some gravel and off-camber terrain. Deluxe jumped at the opportunity.

DELUXE CARAVANS BRINGS THE ECLIPSE

Deluxe Caravans brought along its 21ft 6in Eclipse Off-Road. It was the largest of the vans in attendance, with a longer overhang that the rest. Not having a rear cutaway, if any van was going to scrape its bumper as it negotiated this terrain – especially the deceptively large hills – it would be this one. Yet, it traversed the course with relative ease. That said, almost any caravan without a cutaway will bottom out around the bumper if the approach or departure angles are steep enough. But as you can see in the video, on the types of undulations you’d likely tackle with this caravan, it manages easily.

Riding on 3500kg-rated Cruisemaster XT suspension, which has dual shocker absorbers per wheel, the Eclipse Off-Road did everything it was supposed to do, with the rear bumper/spare wheel clearing each obstacle. The van sits on a 6in hot-dipped galvanised chassis with a 2in raiser, giving it a reasonable amount of clearance to the underside.

Clad with composite aluminium and checkerplate over a meranti timber frame, the 21ft 6in Eclipse is equipped with all of those essential features: a bike rack up front, a checkerplate storage box with dual slide-out trays, a DO35 coupling, a tunnel boot, a large offside-rear storage space, a reversing camera, a couple of jerry can holders at the rear, and an external shower.

The 12V system is comprised of two 100Ah lithium batteries with 30A charger, three 170W solar panels with a 30A MPPT regulator, and a BMPRO BatteryPlus 35 battery management system.

With two well-protected 95L water tanks and a 110L grey water tank, this van is capable of up to a week away from civilisation, provided you’re frugal with your water consumption.

Deluxe’s caravans are undeniably well built – you won’t find anything rough or unfinished here – but it’s when you step inside that the appeal really hits. The Eclipse was the first two-berth caravan that Deluxe had made, and the design philosophy was to provide as big a bathroom as practical. If you’ve ever squeezed yourself into a caravan bathroom that’s not much larger than 2ft across, you’ll appreciate what Deluxe has done here.

The bathroom includes a large corner shower, a toilet that does not feel cramped, a large linen cupboard that also hides a 3.5kg front-loading washing machine, and loads of other cupboards and bench space. It’s done very well.

The Eclipse doesn’t skimp on appliances, either. It comes with a a Dometic Fresh Jet reverse-cycle air-conditioner, a 188L compressor fridge-freezer, a 24in smart TV, a 28L hot water system, full cooking facilities including a 25L microwave and a four-burner cooktop with griller and oven. I loved the waterfall benchtop in the kitchen – it’s an attractive touch that adds to the premium feel of the interior.

The front queen-size bed is surrounded by an attractive array of cupboards and wardrobes, each with a niche containing a 12V charging point and 240V mains power. Notwithstanding that, there’s room for proper bedside tables, which Deluxe has also fitted.

SUMMING UP

When travelling in offroad conditions, safety must always be the priority. It is never a rush. That was our approach during our Offroad Challenge as we hauled the vans around the track. There’s no reason to act like a ‘cowboy’, pushing a caravan beyond reasonable limits. The Deluxe Eclipse was comfortable in these conditions, and when you factor in the quality of the build, along with the quality of the components, from the suspension to the appliances inside, it adds up to a very appealing package.

As I said, Deluxe Caravans is making a name for itself. By producing just one or two vans a week, in line with its production capability, the company says it can focus on quality rather than volume. I think this approach shows in the 21ft 6in Eclipse Off-Road, a solid caravan that contains a wide range of features. Matched with a tow vehicle that can handle 3500kg, the ATM of the van, the Eclipse would be a very faithful home on wheels, on the bitumen or the offroad.